Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Federal deficit plunges as Congress tightens budget belt
The federal budget is looking much better in fiscal 2014, according to new estimates the Congressional Budget Office released Wednesday that show the government ran a $44 billion surplus in December and is well ahead of last year's pace. Published January 8, 2014
Christie signs, praises New Jersey’s Dream Act law
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie held a ceremonial signing Tuesday to highlight his approval of the state's new Dream Act law granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition, in a move that signals immigration will once again be a major issue in the 2016 presidential primaries. Published January 7, 2014
Gates says Obama, Clinton played politics with Iraq war
President Obama’s former defense secretary says in a new book that both the president and then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton acknowledged in front of him that they opposed the Iraq surge because of presidential politics. Published January 7, 2014
GAO watchgdog: CBP, ICE security database upgrade seen veering off course
The government's chief watchdog said Monday that the Homeland Security Department is in danger of another billion-dollar technology boondoggle, adding that the immigration agency's effort to upgrade the database for security checks at the U.S. border already has missed deadlines and appears to be veering off course again. Published January 6, 2014
TIMELESS: Medal of Honor approved for Civil War and Vietnam veterans
More than 150 years after he gave his life at Gettysburg leading the effort to repel Pickett's Charge, 1st Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing is finally on track to get the Medal of Honor after Congress last month approved waiving the time-limit for the nation's top military honor. Published January 6, 2014
Secret court approves three more months of NSA phone snooping
The secret court that oversees the nation's intelligence activities renewed its approval of the National Security Agency's telephone-records program on Friday, granting the government a new three-month window to collect data on all Americans' phone calls. Published January 3, 2014
Illegal immigrant granted law license in California
The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an illegal immigrant can join the bar and begin to practice law in that state, granting a major symbolic victory to immigrant rights advocates who say it's a step on the path to equal treatment in employment law. Published January 2, 2014
2014 begins with $54 billion in tax hikes
A final congressional stalemate in late December means the New Year's expiration of a host of tax breaks, amounting to a $54.2 billion increase for green-energy businesses, teachers, homeowners, college students and others. Published December 31, 2013
U.S. population level drops due to low birth rates, immigration trends
The U.S. population this year grew at its lowest rate since the Great Depression, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates Monday that suggest the sluggish economy continues to tamp down on immigration, and birth rates are still low for those already here. Published December 30, 2013
Implanted radio chips help park rangers protect precious cactus from poachers
TUCSON, Ariz. — Theft in the Wild West goes back for centuries, but it's not often you think of the landscape itself being stolen — in this case, the saguaro cactus, the jaunty, multi-armed icon of Arizona that turns out to be a desired addition to many homeowners' front yards. Published December 29, 2013
FAA safety data kept hidden from inspectors
The Federal Aviation Administration is finally collecting a trove of confidential safety data from commercial airline operators, but the agency is still "years away" from analyzing the information to predict problems and doesn't even allow its own inspectors to look at the data. Published December 26, 2013
Obama issues signing statement objecting to restrictions on Guantanamo Bay transfer
President Obama signed the massive defense policy bill into law Thursday but used an accompanying statement to say he reserved the right to ignore part of the legislation that prevents him from transferring detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the U.S. mainland. Published December 26, 2013
Federal authorities charge white ‘knockout’ suspect with hate crime
The Obama administration filed a federal hate-crimes charge Thursday against a man whom authorities accused of using the “knockout game” to target a black man, videotaping it, and then bragging about the assault to strangers. Published December 26, 2013
Alaska residents upset feds side with environmentalists on road plan
The Obama administration handed environmentalists a significant victory Monday when the Interior Department decided against allowing a road to be built through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, dashing the hopes of locals who said the route was critical for safety. Published December 23, 2013
Pelosi: Obamacare will be ‘glorious’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Monday defended Obamacare amid fellow Democrats' concerns, saying that while the politics may be tricky right now, eventually having voted for the health care law will be a boon. Published December 23, 2013
Pelosi: Tack cost of more unemployment benefits onto deficit
Democrats have already signaled their first fight for the new year — trying to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless for the 12th time since the economic downturn began and saying it's a test of the income inequality campaign message they'll use in this year's elections. Published December 23, 2013
After Senate Dems go nuclear, GOP fights back with conventional weapons
Democrats may have changed the rules on filibusters, but far from ending the intense battle over President Obama's nominations, the move has pushed Republicans to fight harder — and to pioneer other tactics. Published December 22, 2013
Top lawmakers fight to save NSA snooping program
The top four lawmakers who oversee the U.S. intelligence community said Friday that President Obama should reject his own review panel's recommendations that bulk collection of government of Americans' phone records should be curbed. Published December 20, 2013
Obama open to curbing NSA overseas phone collection
President Obama said Friday that the U.S. must consider extending some of its prohibitions against domestic surveillance to the international community. Published December 20, 2013
Obama: 2014 will be ‘breakthrough year’ for U.S.
President Obama said Friday that he "screwed it up" in the rollout of his health care law, though he said the system is now working much better and hundreds of thousands of people have been able to sign up for coverage. Published December 20, 2013
